Monthly Archives: June 2015

Working parents should be aware that the child and dependent care tax credit is available to offset some of the expenses for child care. Six facts the IRS wants taxpayers to know about the credit:

● Children must be under age 13 to qualify for the credit.
● The credit applies whether the childcare provider is a sitter at home or a daycare facility.
● The credit applies for up to $3,000 of expenses for one child and up to $6,000 for two or more.
● The credit can be up to 35% of qualifying expenses, depending on your income.
● Overnight camps don’t qualify; day camps do.
● Keep receipts for expenses, and get the employee ID number of the care giver.

It’s important for S corporation shareholders to know their basis in the corporation. Basis is the key to determining whether current-year losses can be deducted by the shareholder or not. Losses in excess of basis are generally “suspended” for use in later years when the business has income. Basis is also important when shareholders plan to take nontaxable distributions. In cases where distributions exceed investment in the company, the distributions can be taxed as capital gain. Check your basis now to give yourself time to increase basis if necessary and avoid a tax surprise at year-end.

The 2016 inflation-adjusted amounts for health savings accounts (HSAs) have been released by the IRS. Individuals will be allowed to contribute up to $3,350, and contributions for family coverage will be limited to $6,750. As before, an individual aged 55 or older may contribute an additional $1,000. For 2016, a “high-deductible health plan” is one with an annual deductible of not less than $1,300 for individual coverage and $2,600 for family coverage.

CIRCULAR 230 NOTIFICATION: We are required by IRS Circular 230 to inform you that, unless otherwise expressly indicated, any tax advice contained in this communication (including attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purposes of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.